Knicks' Jalen Brunson Cleared for Basketball Activities, Talks Injury Return

Jalen Brunson has been out multiple weeks because of an ankle injury, but the New York Knicks star is seemingly trending toward returning soon.

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Brunson said he's "feeling better" but doesn't have a return date just yet. He also said he's been cleared for basketball activities, per The Athletic's Fred Katz.

SNY's Ian Begley added that Brunson “realistically” wants to play before the end of the regular season to get some reps in ahead of the playoffs.

According to Begley, it's still unclear if Brunson has been cleared for full contact. Begley added that Brunson is "sprinting fully" and "is able to cut/change direction quickly" on his right ankle.

Brunson suffered the sprained ankle on March 6 after dropping 39 points and 10 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers and has not been on the court since. New York has gone 6-5 in his absence.

The third-year Knick has once again had a tremendous year, putting up 26.3 points and 7.4 assists per game, leading New York to a third consecutive playoff berth.

The Knicks have nine games left in the regular season, and getting Brunson back on the court before then would allow him the chance to readjust to playing a full game ahead of the playoffs. New York also has a few key matchups to close out the year, including two contests with the Cleveland Cavaliers and a game against the Boston Celtics.

As it stands now, the Knicks would have a first-round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, though plenty can change over the final few weeks. New York has the No. 3 seed, but the Indiana Pacers are just 3.5 games behind and are playing well at the moment.

The Knicks should be able to rely on Karl-Anthony Towns and others to finish strong, but having Brunson on the court would be preferable.